Magnetic holder



March 2, 1965 SHIRLEY 3,171,176

MAGNETIC HOLDER Filed July 2. 1962 INVENTOR. ALTON L. SHIRLEY BYd ATTORNEYS United States Patent l 3,171,176 MAGNETIC HOLDER Alton L. Shirley,57 Hollybrook Terrace, Cranston, RJ. Filed July 2, 1962, Ser. No.206,625 Claims. (Cl. 24-12) The present invention relates to a magneticholder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a magneticholder for retaining an article thereon.

The magnetic holder embodied in the present invention has particularapplication as a means for conveniently retaining an article in anaccessible place on an article of clothing of the user. As a practicalapplication of the invention, the magnetic holder is shown and describedherein retaining an article such as a ballpoint pen thereon. The holderis provided with a fastening element, such as a pin with safety catch,that is adapted to be secured to an article of clothing of the user.Thus the magnetic holder is secured to the users lapel, blouse or otherarticle of clothing and securelyreceives in magnetic attraction thereonthe ballpoint pen. The ballpoint pen is thereby effectively retained ina convenient location so as to be readily available to the user whendesired. It is understood that other articles may be retained by themagnetic holder embodied herein and that the ball point pen illustratedin the drawings is only one example of such an article.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a magneticholder for retaining an article thereon in magnetic attraction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic holder thatincorporates a magnet therein that is shaped and constructed toconcentrate the magnetic flux in an area on the holder that provides foreffectively attracting an article to be retained thereon.

Still another object is to provide a magnetic holder that is formed witha shell and locking member between which a magnet is positioned, themagnet being adapted to magnetize the marginal and peripheral portionsof the shell and locking member so that an article may be effectivelyretained in magnetic attraction thereon.

Still another object is to provide a magnetic holder that includes ashell and locking member, the locking member being formed with means forproperly locating an article thereon when the article is placed inmagnetic attraction thereagainst.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplatedfor carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the magnetic holder embodied hereinshowing a ballpoint pen located in magnetic attraction thereon;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the magnetic holder embodiedherein showing the component parts thereof. v

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, the magneticholder embodied herein is generally indicated at 16 and is shown for useas a holder for a ballpoint pen 12. As will be described hereinafter, anadaptor 14 secured to a ring 16 of the ballpoint pen 12 is held inmagnetic attraction by the magnetic holder, and as such the pen 12 issecured in place on the magnetic holder for convenient access to theuser. It is understood that other articles may be retained on themagnetic holder without departing from the spirit of 3,171,176 PatentedMar. 2, 1965 the invention, and it would only require that the adaptor14 be mounted on the other article in some convenient manner. In thepresent invention the adaptor 14 is secured to the ring 16 as anintegral part thereof or may be soldered or welded in place, dependingupon the materials utilized. In all cases, the adaptor 14 is formed of ametallic material that is magnetically attractable and in the presentinstance has a rectangular configuration, the longitudinal dimension ofwhich is proportioned for being received on the base of the magneticholder 10 as will be described hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the magnetic holder 10 is shown indetail and includes a housing defined by a metallic shell generallyindicated at 18 and a metallic locking member generally indicated at 20.The shell 18, which may be formed of any suitable magneticallyattractable material, includes a bottom wall 22 and a peripheral sidewall 24 that is integrally joined to the bottom wall 22. Secured to theouter face or surface of the bottom Wall 22 by a rivet 26 is a fasteningelement 28. The fastening element 28 is defined by a pivoted pin andsafety lock construction that is conventional in the art and is of thattype that provides for securing of the magnetic holder on an article ofclothing of the user.

The locking member 20 includes a marginal outer wall 30 that defines acentral opening 32. An annular dejpending flange 34 is joined to themarginal wall 30 and is proportioned for enveloping the annular sidewall 24 of the metallic shell 18 in frictional engagement there with.

In order to provide for the magnetic characteristics of the magneticholder 10, a circular magnet 36 is provided and is adapted to snugly fitwithin the shell 18 so as to occupy substantially the entire spacetherein. The magnet 36 is formed with a central opening 38 therein, thecentral opening not only providing for receiving the inner portion ofthe rivet 26, but also providing for the concentration of the magneticflux in the magnet at the. outer marginal and peripheral portionsthereof. Thus, when the magnet 36 is located within the shell 18 and thelocking member 24 is disposed in enveloping relation around the shell18, the magnetic flux concentrated at the marginal and peripheralportions of the magnet will act to magnetize the corresponding marginaland. periph- H eral portions of the shell 18 and locking member 20. As

Will be described hereinafter, since the marginal and peripheralportions of the magnetic holder have the great est magnetic attraction,the adaptor 14 will be effectively retained in position at theseportions.

Since the outer surface of the magnet 36 does not provide a veryattractive appearance, an overlay disc 40 is provided and is shaped andproportioned to fit within the locking member 20 when the locking memberis disposed in enveloping relation on the shell 18. Although the disc 40as illustrated has a plain unmarked outer surface, it is contemplated toform this surface with an ornamental appearance. Thus, the outer surfaceof the disc 40 may be utilized as an advertising device or may have somedescriptive material imprinted thereon. It is also contemplated to formthe disc 40 of a plastic material which By providing the nonv iselectrically nonconductive. conductive plastic disc 40 in directoverlaying relation with respect to the magnet 36, more effectivemagnetic attraction is provided for the marginal and peripheral portionsof the magnetic holder 10.

In order to properly locate the adaptor 14 on the magnetic holder 10,marginal wall 30 of the locking member 20 is provided with a pluralityof raised projections or areas 42 that in effect define an annularraised ring. The raised ring defined by the projections 42 has adiametrical dimension that is adapted to receive in snug fitting relaareeifectively retained in positionby the magnetic force of the magnet 36.The pen 12 when secured to the adaptor 14 may then be, effectivelyretained in position on themagn'etic holder by simply placing theadaptor 14 in contact with the marginal wall 30, the outermost edges ofthe .adaptor14 being located by the annular ring defined.by theprojections 42. s

f .In use, the magnetic holder may be secured to an article of clothingof the user by simply inserting the pin of the fastening element 28 inthe' users clothing and locking the pin in.place by the safety catch ofthe fastening element. The article ,tobe retained inposition on theholder such as :the pen 12 may be securely mounted thereon by simplyplacing the adaptor 14 in position on the locking element 20. .The pen12 may be removed from the holder 19. by grasping itfand exertingan'outward force that is sufiicient to remove the adaptor 14 from thelocking member 20. 'After the pen 12 has been'utilized for its desiredpurpose, it can then be reinserted in place on the holder ltlby placingthe adaptor 14 Within the annular ring defined by the projections42 onthe locking member 20, While there is shown and described herein certainspecific structure embodying the" invention, it will be manifest tothose skilled in'the art that various modifications and rearrangementsofthe parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theunderlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to theparticular, forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicatedby the scope of the appended claims.

' What is claimed is: i

' 1 In a magnetic holder for retaining anarticle thereon, a shell formed'of a magnetically attractable materialand having'a bottom Wall and aperipheral side Wall joined to said bottom wall,, a fastening elementsecured to the outer surface of said bottom wall and including means formounting said holder to an article of clothing of the user of saidholder, a magnet located within said shell and occupying substantiallythe entire space therein, a disc of nonmagnetically attractable materialoverlying said magnet and forming an ornamental cover therefor, alocking member of magnetically attractable material mounted on saidshell and including a depending peripheral flange thatfrictionallyengages the side wall of said shell in enveloping relation, and amarginal portion that overlies a marginal area of said disc, therebylocking said disc in place onsaid magnet, said locking member includinga central opening for exposing a major portion of the outer surfaceoflsaid disc, and means formed, on said marginal portion that is raisedwith respect to the surface thereof for properly' locating amagnetically attractable element associated With' the article to beretained on said holder.

2. In amagnetie holder for retaining an article thereon, a" shell formedof a magnetically attractable material and having a bottom wall and aperipheral side wall, a magnet looted in said' shell and occupyingsubstantially the entire space therein, a'disc formed' of anonmagnetically' attractable material and having an ornamental outerface overlying said magnet, and a locking member formed of magneticallyattractable material and frictionally engaging said shell for enclosingsaid magnet and locking said disc therein, said locking member having acentral opening formed therein for exposing a major portion of the outersurface of said disc, said locking member further including means formedon a marginal portion thereof that is adapted to properly locate amagnetically attractable element associated with the article to beretained on said holder.

3. In a magnetic holder for retaining a magnetically attractable elementthereon, a housing including a metallic shell and a metallic lockingmember frictionally engaging said shell, at least said locking memberbeing formed of a magnetically attractable material, a magnet disposedin said shell and occupying substantially the entire space therein, saidmagnet having a central opening formed therein thereby causing theconcentration of magnetic flux to be in the marginal and peripheralportions thereof, wherein the marginal and peripheral portions of saidlocking member are magnetized, a disc of nonmagnetic material overlyingsaid magnet and being locked in position by said locking member, andmeans formed on said marginal portion of said locking member forproperly locating said magnetically attractable element thereon, saidlocating means being formed as an integral'part of said locking memberso as to be magnetized by said magnet andthereby acting to locate themagnetically attractable element that is magnetically attracted thereto.

4. In a magnetic holder as set forth in claim 3, said locating meansbeing defined by a marginal portion of said locking element that israised with respect to the remaining portions and that is annular inconfiguration, the

magnetically attractable element being of a dimension to fit within theannular raised marginal portion so as to be closely confined andrestricted on both ends by said raised marginal portion. h

5. In a magnetic holder for retaining an article thereon, a metallicshell formed of a magnetically attractable material and having a bottomwall and a peripheral side Wall joined to said bottom wall, a magnetlocated in said shell and occupying substantially the entire space insaid shell, a disc of nonmagnetically attractable material overlyingsaid magnet, and having an ornamental design on the outer surfacethereof, and a locking member formed of a magnetically attractablematerial having a peripheral flange that envelops the side wall of saidshell and including a marginal portion that defines a central opening insaid locking member, said marginal portion overlying a marginal area ofsaid disc for locking said disc in said shell, the central opening insaid locking member exposing a major portion of the outer surface ofsaid disc, wherein the ornamental design on said outer surface issubstantially exposed for external view.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,297,806 Smith Oct. 6, 1942 2,632,790 Kiler Mar. 24, 1953 3,009,225Budreck Nov. 21, 1961 3,063,118 Salter et al Nov. 13, 1962 FOREIGNPATENTS 73,592 Norway June 7, 1948 ire-n...

5. IN A MAGNETIC HOLDER FOR RETAINING AN ARTICLE THEREON, A METALLICSHELL FORMED OF A MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTABLE MATERIAL AND HAVING A BOTTOMWALL AND A PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL JOINED TO SAID BOTTOM WALL, A MAGNETLOCATED IN SAID SHELL AND OCCUPYING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE SPACE INSAID SHELL, A DISC OF NONMAGNETICALLY ATTRACTABLE MATERIAL OVERLYINGSAID MAGNET, AND HAVING AND ORNAMENTAL DESIGN ON THE OUTER SURFACETHEREOF, AND A LOCKING MEMBER FORMED OF A MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTABLEMATERIAL HAVING A